Tutorial: Scallop Tag Topper punch tied card

This card is not as tricky as it looks and, the first time I tried to make one, I was seriously overcomplicating things! So, just in case you’re having the same trouble that I was, take a look at the tutorial below to see how simple it really is...

1. Start with a standard card blank, unscored. Carefully feed one of the short edges into the punch. Line it up to the far edge of the punch base and it will save you having to measure anything

2. Repeat on the opposite side, again lining up against the punch base so that your punch is the same distance from the base of the card as before

3. Trim off the excess cardstock

4. Score the protruding flap on the right-hand side, following the edge of the cardstock

5. Now you will have to measure. I’ve made my card 10.5cm wide to fit our standard C6 envelopes. Score at this point and then fold the front flap over to create your basic card. 

6. Decorate as you wish and tie together with some ribbon or thread.

Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies

Table built by craftingbecky.com

Chalk Talk	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack
Silver Glimmer Paper	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Real Red A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay	Many Marvelous Markers

Scallop Tag Topper punch - smile card

The scallop tag topper punch is so versatile – here I’ve used it to create a ribbon slider tag for a very simple card. I’ve used the clean bright colours of the Fresh Prints DSP stack and added a couple of wooden elements for good measure. 

Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies

Table built by craftingbecky.com

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack
Happy Day	Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	Essentials Wooden Elements

Caturday: purrfect paws!

What a fine pair of paws we have here. Who could they belong to? There’s only one cat around here who likes to sleep in the “diving” position and that’s Pooboo. Here’s the handsome chap...

Weekly Deals

It’s Weekly Deals time again! Check out this week’s deals on my online shop –  I highly recommend getting yourself a heat tool if you don’t already have one! Gotta dash...

Hardwood muslin bag with Spiral Flower Die

I love these little bags and here’s one that didn’t make the cut for our Art in the Round workshops. I stamped the bag using Hardwood in Baked Brown Sugar, but it was a little too subtle for my liking – which is why it didn’t make the cut for Art in the Round. But I do like it with the addition of this fun tag. These wouldn’t have been practical to make at the Roundhouse, as you really do need a hot glue gun to get the best out of this Spiral Flower Die. 

I made the tag with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, a really versatile tool which I’ll be showcasing over the coming days. 

Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies

Table built by craftingbecky.com

Mini Muslin Bags	Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Card Stock A4 Baked Brown Sugar	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry	2013-2015 In Color Core'dinations	Wetlands	Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Hardwood	Baked Brown Sugar Classic Stampin' Pad	Fringe Scissors

Cards for Keep auction begins today!

So… what do I have in common with Fern Britton, Benedict Cumberbatch, Twiggy, Karl Pilkington (don’t answer that one) and illustrator Axel Scheffler?

All of us – and many other celebrities (not that I’m a celebrity, but you know what I mean) will be having our cards auctioned on eBay from today in aid of a fabulous cause. 

I’ve just taken the call from Stampin’ Up!® to say that my card was chosen from all the entries sent in by demonstrators across the country to be part of the auction. To be honest, I thought it was just a random draw, so be told that my card was personally selected by Stampin’ Up!® co-founder and CEO Shelli Gardner and her daughter Sara Douglas, really made my day! Apparently they loved the fact that it was so bright and cheerful. 

The card I sent in was this one, which uses the fab starburst technique in a lovely cheerful yellow. I do love yellow and I thought it was a great colour – and this is a great sentiment – for bringing a little sunshine into the lives of children. 

The cards will all be auctioned in aid of Coram, which is the country’s oldest children’s charity. It was founded 275 years ago and helps children in various ways, through advice, legal support, helplines and adoption, among others. 

You can read more about the auction on the Coram website, here, and you can start bidding later on today at the auction, here. You can view all the cards which have been donated by checking out the Pinterest gallery, here. 

The auction goes live this afternoon at 3.30pm, so please bid on my card as I am concerned it will be rejected in favour of those created by much more famous names!

Art in the Round

We spent a lovely day at Art in the Round yesterday – and there’s more to come today! We have a fantastic space with room for displays and workshops, so please do pay us a visit today. We ’re in Pod 6 on the balcony above the library, at the Roundhouse, Pride Park, Derby. We have workshops running all day, so come and have a play!

Caturday: Ruby

Animal-lovers, steel yourselves... because Ruby’s story will make you very cross indeed. She was ejected from her home and sent to the cat shelter for one reason only... because her owner bought a new settee. Even though this is no longer news to me, I can still feel my blood beginning to boil as I type, so I’ll say no more on that topic. Just check out her cute little black nose.

Ruby is very needy at the moment and really needs to be in a proper home. Could that home be yours?

Springtime Hello and Art in the Round

Ooh, I have a very busy day today because this weekend I and some of my team members will be taking part in Art in the Round, a brand new art event for Derby city. 

The Roundhouse in Pride Park will be teeming with artists, exhibiting and selling their work - and, upstairs, on the balcony, we will be offering workshops. We have a packed programme for adults and children, so please do pay us a visit to find out what’s going on. We’d love to see you there!

Meanwhile, I know you’ll be wondering what happened to all my projects, so here’s one using the gorgeous Springtime Hello stamp set. 

I’ve used the same technique which we used at the class I held last month; I inked up the stamp using markers, then spritzed it with water before stamping onto Watercolour Paper. I kept the card simple as it’s clearly a sympathy card; it’s for a friend who lost her beloved dog last week. I didn’t feel the happy puppy in Storytime Friends was appropriate in this case. 

Stampin᾿ Up! Supplies

Table built by craftingbecky.com

Springtime Hello	So Sorry Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Old Olive A4 Card Stock
Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	6 X 9 Watercolor Paper	Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape
Jet Black Stazon Pad	Many Marvelous Markers	Stampin' Spritzer

New! Photopolymer stamps!

I have another exciting announcement for you today! We’re getting CLEAR stamps – yes, clear stamps to stick to your clear blocks!

Stampin’ Up!® has searched long and hard for just the right material to be able to introduce completely clear stamping. And they have found it in the form of photopolymer. In the new catalogue (out 1st July) there will be wood-mount, clear-mount AND photopolymer stamps. 

These top-quality photopolymer stamps are designed to stick extremely well on our acrylic blocks, are durable, and the transparent nature of these sets makes it easier to line up your images without the need of a guide – particularly useful with alphabets, borders, and backgrounds.

But you don’t have to wait until July to try these stamps. Throughout May, if you spend £60 on products, you’ll get to choose one of four photopolymer stamp sets FREE! These are limited edition stamps which will not be offered in the new catalogue, so if you fall in love with any of them, you need to get them now. Simply place an order – you can email me or visit my online store – and you’ll be prompted to choose one of these fab four sets. 

Here are the stamps – remember the prices are there just as a guide to their value; this should give you an idea of prices when the full range is released with the new catalogue. As you can see, you get a lot more images for your money with photopolymer! Scroll down for a video about this great new product!

Some questions you may have:

Q: Will these sets be in the new catalogue?

A: No, they are limited edition and will not be available after 31st May

Q: Why is SU offering photopolymer now?

A: In the past, photopolymers have been prone to yellowing, cracking, too-soft image stamping and other problems. This photopolymer product meets the high standards of quality required for SU products.

Q: How do I store my photopolymer stamps?

A: The four limited edition sets come in a cello bag, between two sheets of acetate, one of which is printed with the stamp images. Keep them out of direct sunlight and, if you wish, purchase the clear-mount cases for further protection (and so they match the other stamps on your shelf!) The photopolymer stamps in the upcoming catalogue will come packaged in clear-mount stamp cases. 

Q: What inks can I use?

A: Our classic ink is the best choice. Versmark and Stazon are also ok. Clean your stamps promptly afterwards to avoid staining or damage. 

Q: How do I clean them?

A: Use your Stampin’ Scrub and mist as normal. If they get dusty or lose their stickiness, you can wash them in mild soap and water. If you use Stazon, you can use Stazon cleaner but be sparing and ensure all traces of the cleaner are removed afterwards. 

Q: Will they stain?

A: They are more prone to staining than rubber, particularly with Basic Gray and red shades. Clean immediately after use to avoid this.